Adjustable axle for tractors.



A. H. REED.

ADI-USTABLE AXLE` FOR TRACTDRS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR` I5. ISIS.

l Patented Apr. 29, IMI).

1. I :RNW lllll IIJ I IIIIIIIMII IIIIIIIL NVENTOR. @Ay/Pw A TTORNEY REW H. REED, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

IUSTLE IIE FOR TRACTORS.

neonata Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aprs 29, 119W).

Application filed March 15, 1918. Serial N o. 222,697.v

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW I-I. Rm, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Axles for Tractors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters` and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to farm tractors and more particularly to tractors used for the cultivation of plants growing in rows planted at denite spaced intervals; the principal object of the present invention be ing to provide an adjustable axle for mounting the tractor guide wheels, comprising telescoping sections that may be adjusted to retainvthe wheels at a certain spaced distance as is determined by the spacing of three rows of plants in which the tractor is being operated sok that the plants may be properly cultivated without damage being done thereto by said wheels.

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved details of structure whereby the telescoping parts may be made of substantial strength with as little weight as possible and whereby the parts may be joined together and xed to the tractor frame to form a pivotal support for the latter.

In accomplishing these objects I have provided improved details of structure the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure I is a front end view of a tractor equipped with an axle constructed-according to the present invention.

Fig. II is a plan view of the forward end of the tractor showing the same parts. lig. III is a detail perspective view of parts of the' frame. and axle illustrating the pivotal mounting of the axle, and the steering mechanism.

Fig. IV is a sectional detailD Referring more in detail to the drawings zv 1 and 2 designate opposite side beams forming a part of a tractor frame wherewith the forward end of the tractor frame from the axle presently described.

rIhe axle, in its preferred construction, comprises a back bar 6 and inner and outer telescoping axle sections 7 and 8 which are mounted thereon; the said bar member having a length approximately equal to the width of the frameand is pivoted at, its center point on the forward end of the pin 5, and along its outer face is provided with a longitudinally extending rib or rail 9 which serves as aguide whereon the inner telescoping axle member may move and which serves to retain the bar and axle meinbers in rigid relation.

The axle sections 7*8 respectively comprise channel like horizontal portions l() and 11, provided at their outer ends with down turned vertical legs 12-12g the inner channel portion 10 being adapted to snugly receive the rib 9 on the back bar 6 and to slide thereon to effect a lateral adjustment of the leg l2 carried thereby toward or from the Iframe. The outer channel member is of such size that it will slidably contain the inner channel member and may be adjusted thereon similarly as the member l0 is adjusted on the rib 9 so that the leg l2 carried thereby may be adjusted at the opposite side of the frame similarly as the leg 192.

In order to retain the telescoping members in functional position while being adjusted and to hold the same rigidly together after the desired adjustment has been madey I provide clamp members that are adapted to inclose the said members and opposite ends of the back bar; the said clamp menibers comprising U-bolts 14: and apeitured plates 15 adapted to receive the ends of the f f lit bolts 18, exten-ded through apertures 19 therein and through registering apertures 20 in the said legs, are wheel carrying members 21-21 the latter being provided at their lower ends with out turned' yoke portions 22 wherein knuckle members 23 are mounted; the knuckle having hubs 24 extending therefrom Whereon the ground or steering wheels 25 are revolubly fixed.

The knuckle memlbers are revolubly mounted within the yoke members on the lower ends of vertical rods 26-26 which extend slightly above the level of the axle and adjacent their upper ends are revolubly contained in bearings 27-27 formed at'the upper ends-,of the wheel carrying members.

The rods 26-26 are fixed at their lower ends Within the knuckles so that the direction of the wheels is controlled by the turning of said rods. Y

`upported from the axle in a fixed position `relativeto the rod 26 by means ot a vertically adjustable post 29 extending through the axle member l0, is a housing 30, wherein a gear sector 31, that is lixed to the upper end of the rod '26, is adapted to operate, and revolubly su-pported within the V said housing is a worm shaft 32 that operates in mesh with the said sector and whereto a steering rod 33 is fixed by a universal couphng 34e so that a driver at the rear of the tractor may, by turning the rod 33 eiect movement of the sector 31 and thereby actuate the guide Wheels in a desired direction.

ln order that both Wheels may be operated synchronously I tix lever arms 36-36 at the upper ends of the-rods 26-26 which are connected by a cross bar 37 comprising overlapped sections 33-38; the overlapped ends of which extend through a collar 39 and are clamped together in proper alinement by threading a set screw 40 through the collar wall to bear against the adjacent bar and hold the overlapped ends tightly together. This adjustment is provided in order that proper steering adjustment may be made in accordance with the lateral adjustment of the wheel carrying parts of the axle sections.

1n order to prevent an possible displacement of the axle, shoul an unusual strain It is apparent that if it is debe placed thereon when it occupies an inclined position relative to the frame, lll have justed may be held at the adjusted position by tightening the clamp members thereagainst.

It is further apparent that vertical adjustment ofthe wheels may be made by movement of the wheel carrying member alfilg the legs 12.

ith such lateral adjustment, it is apparent that by a proper setting of the wheels the tractor may be operated successfully between rows o'f plants spaced at various distances without damage'thereto.

Having thus described my invention, what 9u I claim as -new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a tractor, a frame having a' transverse end member, an axle comprising a bar centrally pivoted to and of substantially the same length as the frame member, and having a longitudinally extending lrib thereon,-

inner and outer laterally adjustable wheel carrying sections mounted on said bar; the inner section being adapted to slidably rej ceive said bar rib andthe outer section being telescopically mounted on the inner section, and clamp devices inclosing both of said sections and said bar at its opposite ends to lock the said sections at. any laterally adj usted position.

2. ln a tractor, a frame having a transverse end member, an axle comprising a back bar centrally pivoted to the frame member and having a longitudinally extending rib thereon, inner and outer laterally adjustable sections mounted on said bar and ldd ill@

having downturnedend portions at opposite sides of the frame; said inner adjustable section comprising a channel like portion adapted to slidably receive said bar ribl ard said outer section comprising a channel like portion adapted to slidably contain the inner section, clamp devices inclosing both of said sections and said bar to lock the said Mii sections at a laterally adjusted position and ground wheels steerably mounted on the downturned end portions of said axle sections.

3. ln a tractor, a frame having a transverse end beam, a pivot pin extending cen- Miti traJlly therefrom, an axle comprising a back bar centrally mounted von said pin and iat adapted to pivot therein in a vertical plane,

and having a longitudinally extending rib on its forward face, inner and outer laterally adjustable sections mounted on said bar and comprising dovvntunedl end portions at opposite sides of the frame; said inner adjustable section comprising a channeled portion slidably mounted on said bar and inclosing said rib and said outer section comprising a channeled Vmember slidiably mounted on said inner section, clamp members inclosing said section and back bar to lock the sections at adjusted positions, Wheel carrying members mounted on said laterally adjustable sections and guide wheels steerably mounted on said members.

ln testimony whereof l afix In si ature.

. RV ED.

ANDREW 

